Thomson Elementary School has joined the ranks of Georgia's Title I Distinguished Schools for making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) five years in a row. The school will receive a $74,125 grant for their academic success.
The State Board of Education approved the original list of 115 Title I Distinguished Schools in January -- a list that included McDuffie's Maxwell Elementary School and Norris Elementary School.
Thomson Elementary was not included in the list because the school was appealing its school improvement status. The appeals revealed that the schools did, in fact, make AYP returning them to Distinguished School status.
The money must be used for educational purposes, but the schools have the freedom to decide exactly how the money will be spent. Some schools have said they intend to give awards to teachers and staff, buy equipment and supplies, or fund special school-wide projects.
